Rapid-fire toy cannon.



J. R. TOBIN.

' RAPID FIRE TOY CANNON.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 18. 1916.

1,223,448. Patented Apr. 24, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- J. R. TOBIN.

RAPID FIRE TOY CANNON.-

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 18. 1916.

2 $HEETSSHEET 2.-

T NFL m v Z7 imessea UNITED STATES rAT- NT OFFICE.

Jorm'n'. Torin, orransronn, sour nAKo'rAfi RAPID-FIRE may, CANNON". 2

'appertains to make and use the same.

Th1s invention relates totoy cannons and:

has special reference to a rapid fire toy cannon arranged todischarge a large num ber of bullets in a short time.

One importantobject of the invention is to improve and simplify the general construction of devices of this character.-

A second important "object of the invention isto provide a toy cannon of this character with a magazine capable of being placed in or moved out of communication with the barrel of the gun so that the gun may be used as a single shot or repeating cannon. p y l A third important objectofthe invention is the provision of' an improved arrangement of toy cannon mounted to swivel on a' stand, the barrel of the gun having the operating mechanism connected 1 directly thereto so that the swiveling movement does not interfere with the firing of the cannon." I

With the above and other objects in view,

as will be hereinafter apparent the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illus trated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, like char acters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and

Figure 1v is a side elevationof' a toy cannon constructed in accordance with this invention; I

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof; I Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section onthe line 33 ofFig. 2 with thelparts, in firing position;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4.4 of Fig. 1 with the magazine in communication-with the barrel;

Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 4 but showing the magazine moved into cut oif 7 position p p Specification of Letters lPatent. Patented Apr, 24, 1917 Application filed 0ctober18, 1916. Serial No. 126,349.

Fig. 6 is a detail section on the line 66 of Fig. 1; H

Fig. .7 isa detail plan view of the frame; Fig. 8 isa detail-front elevation thereof.

Inthe embodiment of the invention herein illustrated 'there is. provided a base 10 whereon is mounted a standard ll having feet 12 "suitably secured to the base. On top of this'base is'swiveled'the breech 13 of a barrel 14: which may thus swing in ahorizontalplane. This barrel '14 is provided with a suitable opening. 15 formed in its lateral wall and surroundingthe barrel and revolublethereon isv a collar 16 having a similar opening therein registering with the opening '15 and to this collar is connected a magazine 17 registeringwith the opening in the collar. These openings are so arranged that whencthe magazine is elevated at an angle bullets held in the magazine will feed downwardly into the barrel 14. When, however, the magazine is. turned to a substantiallyhorizontal position the openings will be sufiiciently out of registryito prevent the feeding of said bullets. Normally the magazine is closed by a cap '18 which may be removed for the purpose of loading said magazine. I

'Reciprocably mounted in the barrel 1& is a plunger 19 which, in its forward position, closes the opening to the magazine while when retracted the forward end of the plunger 19 lies behind the opening to the magazine'so that'bullets may pass down from said magazine into the barrel, it being observed'that butione bullet isfed at a time,

owing to-their size. Connected. to the plunger 19 and to the forward end of the barrel l is a spring 20, the connection being through the medium of a cross arm 21 carried'by the rear end of the plunger and having its upper end projecting Vertically upward while its lower end projects downward and is provided with a head 22. Fixed to the breech portion 13 of the barrel are downwardly extending arms 23 'and forward of the breech portion are other downwardly extending arms 24; which are connected at their lower ends to the rearwardly extending guides 25 which receive the head 22 so that the arm 21 is at all times held vertical. Furthermore it will be observed that by means of this construction the swinging of the barrel will also swing the guide 25.

Extending diagonally upward and rearwardly from the lower ends of the arms 24: and connected to the breech portion 18 are other arms 26 wherein is journaled the crank 27 which alternately engages with and disengages from the upwardly extending portion of the arm 21 as said crank is rotated thus effecting retraction and release of the plunger 19. By means of this the plunger is drawn backward and then released so that the spring pulls the plunger quickly forward and forces the bullet out of the forward end of the barrel,

Moreover, the guide 25, in its swinging movement traverses a bar 28 having an up ward projection 29 in each end so that by this means the barrel is both steadied and limited in its swinging movement.

In the operation of the device the cap 18 is removed and the magazine loaded with as many bullets as desired. If it be desired to fire but a single shot from the cannon the magazine is raised to communicating position and the plunger 19 retracted, care being taken not to move the crank far enough to release said plunger. A bullet will then drop out of the magazine into the barrel of the gun or cannon. The crank is then moved further forward until the plunger is released whereupon the bullet is ejected from the muzzle of the barrel. If the magazine be now turned downward the plunger may be retracted without reloading but, on the I contrary, if the magazine be left standing in its communicating position repeated turnings of the crank will cause repeated ejections of the bullets so that by rapidly turning the crank a rapid succession of bullets may be ejected.

There has thus been provided a simple and efficient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that many minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the mate rial principles thereof. It is not therefore desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described but it is guide carried by said arms and extending.

rearwardly therefrom, a cross armcarried by said plunger and having its lower end received in said guide and its upper end projectingabove the barrel, other arms fixed to the barrel and extending rearwardly and upwardly therefrom, and a handled crank journaled in the last-mentioned arms and alternately engaging and releasing the upper end of said cross arm.

2. In a toy cannon, a stand, a barrel swiveled on said stand for swinging movement in a horizontal plane, a firing plunger reciprocable in said barrel, a spring connected to the plunger and barrel and urging said plunger forward, arms fixed to said barrel. and extending downwardly therefrom, a guide carried by said arms and extending rearwardly therefrom, a cross arm carried by said plunger and having its lower end received in said guide and its upper end projecting above the barrel, other arms fixed to the barrel and extending rearwardly and upwardly therefrom, a handled. crank journaled in the last-mentioned arms and alternately engaging and releasing the upper end of said cross arm, and means engaging said guide and limiting the swinging movement of theguide and barrel.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN R. TOBIN.

Witnesses:

C. T. HARDING, PAULINE E. WALLMAR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

